Method and Apparatus for Selecting a Radio Access Technology for Communication

Abstract

A method and apparatus for communicating data between a mobile communication device and a communications node via an appropriate radio access technology. In one embodiment, the method comprises identifying at least one characteristic associated with data pending for communication, identifying a set of radio access technologies available for communication and at least one characteristic of each, evaluating the characteristics of the pending data relative to the characteristics of the available radio access technologies, selecting from the set of available radio access technologies a radio access technology relative to the pending data and effectuating communication of at least a portion of the pending data via a communication link employing the selected radio access technology.

1 . A method of communicating data between a mobile communication device and a communications node via an appropriate radio access technology, the method comprising:
 identifying at least one characteristic associated with data pending for communication;   identifying a set of radio access technologies available for communication and at least one characteristic of each;   evaluating the characteristics of the pending data relative to the characteristics of the available radio access technologies;   selecting from the set of available radio access technologies a radio access technology relative to the pending data; and   effectuating communication of at least a portion of the pending data via a communication link employing the selected radio access technology.   
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the set of radio access technologies is one of bandwidth, latency, cost and power consumption. 
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the set of radio access technologies available to the mobile communication device includes one or more of General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (IDEN), Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS), High Rate Packet Data Air Interface Evolution, Data-Optimized (EVDO), Wi-Fi, Wi-Max and Bluetooth. 
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the communication link is a downlink to the mobile communication device. 
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the communication link is an uplink to a communications node. 
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: receiving input from a user as to which radio access technology to employ. 
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: terminating the communication link upon completion of the communication of the data. 
   
   
       8 . A mobile communication device operable to communicate data with a communications node via an appropriate radio access technology, the mobile communication device comprising:
 means for identifying at least one characteristic associated with data pending for communication;   means for identifying a set of radio access technologies available for communication and at least one characteristic of each;   means for evaluating the characteristics of the pending data relative to the characteristics of the available radio access technologies;   means for selecting from the set of available radio access technologies a radio access technology relative to the pending data; and   means for effectuating communication of at least a portion of the pending data via a communication link employing the selected radio access technology.   
   
   
       9 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the set of radio access technologies is one of bandwidth, latency, cost and power consumption. 
   
   
       10 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the set of radio access technologies available to the mobile communication device includes one or more of General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (IDEN), Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS), High Rate Packet Data Air Interface Evolution, Data-Optimized (EVDO), Wi-Fi, Wi-Max and Bluetooth. 
   
   
       11 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the communication link is a downlink to the mobile communication device. 
   
   
       12 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the communication link is an uplink to a communications node. 
   
   
       13 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising means for receiving input from a user as to which radio access technology to employ. 
   
   
       14 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising means for terminating the communication link upon completion of the communication of the data. 
   
   
       15 . A computer-readable medium having program code thereon for execution by a mobile communication device operable to communicate data with a communications node via an appropriate radio access technology, the program code comprising:
 a code segment for identifying at least one characteristic associated with data pending for communication;   a code segment for identifying a set of radio access technologies available for communication and at least one characteristic of each;   a code segment for evaluating the characteristics of the pending data relative to the characteristics of the available radio access technologies;   a code segment for selecting from the set of available radio access technologies a radio access technology relative to the pending data; and   a code segment for effectuating communication of at least a portion of the pending data via a communication link employing the selected radio access technology.   
   
   
       16 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the set of radio access technologies is one of bandwidth, latency, cost and power consumption. 
   
   
       17 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the set of radio access technologies available to the mobile communication device includes one or more of General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (IDEN), Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS), High Rate Packet Data Air Interface Evolution, Data-Optimized (EVDO), Wi-Fi, Wi-Max and Bluetooth. 
   
   
       18 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the communication link is a downlink to the mobile communication device. 
   
   
       19 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising a code segment for processing input from a user as to which radio access technology to employ. 
   
   
       20 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising a code segment for terminating the communication link upon completion of the communication of the data.